Means for electrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer

ABSTRACT

A means for electrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer is disclosed which automatically connects the same when the hitch of the trailer is mounted on the vehicle hitch. Four different embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a means for electrically connecting a vehicleelectrical system to a trailer and more particularly to a means forelectrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer bymeans of the hitch connection therebetween.

2. Description of the Related Art

Trailers normally have a lighting system provided thereon for rearlights, turn signal lights and brake lights. Normally, the lights of thetrailer are connected to the electrical system of the towing vehicle bymeans of leads from the trailer being connected to leads from thevehicle's electrical system. Frequently, the driver of the vehicleforgets to disconnect the leads between the trailer and vehicleelectrical system and pulls the same apart after the trailer has beendisconnected from the vehicle hitch. Further, sometimes the leads of thetrailer lights become inadvertently disconnected from the leads of thevehicle electrical system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects oressential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summaryis not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

In one embodiment of the invention, wherein the vehicle has a trailerhitch which extends rearwardly therefrom and which has a hitch ballmounted on the horizontally extending portion thereof, the means forconnecting the electrical system of the vehicle to the lights of thetrailer comprises a first support which is vertically movably secured tothe horizontally extending portion of the hitch with a first contactor,having upper and lower ends, extending rearwardly from the first supportand having electrical contacts at the upper end thereof. The electricalcontacts extend around the hitch ball with the electrical contacts ofthe first contactor being electrically connected to the vehicleelectrical system. A hitch ball coupler is provided at the forward endof the trailer for receiving the hitch ball therein. A second support isoperatively secured to the hitch ball coupler and has rearward andforward ends. A second, semi-ring shaped contactor, having rearward andforward ends, is provided with the rearward end of the second contactorbeing pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to the second support.A spring means is operatively secured to the second contactor whichyieldably urges the forward end thereof in a downward direction. Thesecond contactor has electrical contacts thereon which electricallycontact the electrical contacts of the first contactor when the hitchball is received by the hitch ball coupler to supply electrical power tothe trailer from the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, a springmeans is associated with the first support to yieldably urge the firstsupport upwardly with respect to the horizontally extending portion ofthe vehicle trailer hitch.

In a second embodiment, a means is disclosed for electrically connectingthe vehicle electrical system to the trailer lights of a trailer whereinthe vehicle has a fifth wheel mounted thereon and the trailer has adownwardly extending kingpin mounted thereon. In that embodiment, asemi-ring shaped first contactor with electrical contacts thereon issecured to the fifth wheel of the vehicle with the electrical contactsof the first contactor being electrically connected to the vehicleelectrical system. In that embodiment, a second electrical contactor ismounted on the kingpin of the trailer which is moved into engagementwith the electrical contacts on the first contactor when the kingpin ofthe trailer is received by the fifth wheel of the vehicle. In a thirdembodiment, a means is provided for transmitting electrical power fromthe vehicle electrical system to the trailer through a gooseneck hitchstructure. In that embodiment, a first contactor is mounted on theupstanding hitch ball which is secured to the bed of the vehicle andwhich is yieldably moved upwardly with respect thereto by a springmeans. In this embodiment, a second contactor is positioned within thedownwardly extending portion of the gooseneck hitch of the trailer whichis moved into engagement with the first contact when the trailergooseneck hitch is mounted on the upstanding ball structure. A fourthembodiment is also disclosed which is a modified form of the firstembodiment.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved means forelectrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer.

It is also a principal object of the invention to provide an improvedmeans for transferring electrical power from a vehicle electrical systemto the electrical system of a trailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of the typedescribed which may be used in gooseneck hitch structures, fifth wheelhitch structures and conventional hitch structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the typedescribed which does not require extensive modification of the traileror vehicle.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the first embodiment of the inventionillustrating a trailer coupler being received on a hitch ball with thecoupler and vehicle hitch having mating contactor elements fortransmitting electrical power from the vehicle to the trailer;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of that portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1which is secured to the trailer coupler;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the second embodiment of theinvention being employed to transfer electrical power from a vehiclehaving a fifth wheel to a trailer having a kingpin which is received bythe fifth wheel;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 with portions thereofcut-away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention which enables electrical power to be transferred between avehicle having a gooseneck hitch structure;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a fourth embodiment which is amodification of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-4; and

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevational view of the fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way ofillustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments aredisclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The numeral 10 refers to a conventional vehicle receiver-hitch having ahorizontally disposed portion 12 at the rearward end thereof. Hitch ball14 is mounted on the horizontally disposed portion 12 in conventionalfashion. The numeral 16 refers to a conventional coupler 16 located atthe forward end of a trailer hitch.

A block or plate 18 is vertically movably mounted on portion 12 of hitch10 by four bolts 20 having springs 22 mounted thereon between plate 18and portion 12 which yieldably urge plate 18 upwardly from portion 12.Lead 24 extends inwardly into plate 18 as seen in FIGS. 1-3. The forwardend of lead 24 has a plug connector 26 thereon which is electricallyconnected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Contactor plate 28extends rearwardly from plate 18 and includes a ring-shaped contactorportion 30 having a central opening 32 formed therein. Electricalcontacts 34 are embedded into the upper surface of contactor portion 30and contactor plate 28 and are electrically connected to the electricalwires in lead 24.

Support plate 36 is bolted to coupler 16 by U-bolts 38 and 40 and has alead 42 extending into the rearward end thereof. Plug 44 of lead 42 isconnected to the trailer lights and brakes if the trailer haselectrically actuated brakes. The rearward end of contactor 46 ishingedly secured to the forward end of plate 36 by pins 48 and 50.Springs 52 and 54 are mounted on pins 48 and 50 respectively andyieldably urge the forward end of contactor 46 downwardly. Contactor 46has a central opening 56 and an opening 58 at its forward end.Electrical contacts 60 and 62 are embedded in contactor 46 and are inelectrical contact with the electrical wires in lead 42.

When coupler 16 is lowered onto hitch bolt 14, contacts 60 and 62 are inelectrical contact with contacts 34 on contactor plate portion 30 ofcontactor 28 so that electrical current is supplied to the trailer byway of lead 24, contacts 34, contacts 60 and 62 and lead 42. Springs 52and 54 not only urge contactor 46 downwardly towards contactor 28 butalso permit the coupler 16 to pivot about a horizontal axis with respectto the hitch 10. Springs 20 not only urge contactor 28 downwardly towardcontactor 46 but also permit hitch 10 to move about a horizontal axiswith respect to coupler 16.

A modified version of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 whichenables electrical current from a vehicle fifth wheel to a trailerhaving a kingpin. In FIG. 5, the numeral 64 refers to a conventionalfifth wheel mounted on a vehicle 66. A first semi-ring shaped electricalcontactor support 68 is secured to the fifth wheel 64 and has electricalcontacts 70 at the underside thereof which are connected to theelectrical system of the vehicle by leads 72 and 74.

The numeral 76 refers to a conventional trailer having a kingpin 80 atits lower forward end. An electrical contactor 82 is positioned on theenlarged lower end 84 of kingpin 80 and is electrically insulatedtherefrom. The electrical contactor 82 has electrical contacts 86thereon which are electrically connected to the trailer electricalsystem by leads 88 and 90. When kingpin 80 is received by the fifthwheel 64, the electrical contacts 70 are in electrical contact with theelectrical contacts 86 so that electrical power from the vehicle issupplied to the trailer.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8which depict the method of supplying electrical current from a vehiclehaving a gooseneck hitch ball 92 extending upwardly from the bed 94 ofthe vehicle to the trailer having a gooseneck hitch 96 extendingdownwardly from the forward end of the trailer. A ring-shaped electricalcontactor 98 is vertically movably positioned on the hitch ball 92 belowthe ball portion thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Contactor 98includes an electrical contact or contacts 100 on the upper sidethereof. Contactor 98 is yieldably urged to its upper position by thecoil spring 102. The electrical contacts 100 are electrically connectedto the vehicle electrical system through lead 104.

A ring-shaped electrical contactor 104 is positioned within the lowerend of hitch 96 and has electrical contacts 106 mounted thereon whichare exposed on the lower end thereof. The electrical contacts 106 areelectrically connected to the trailer electrical system by lead 108.When gooseneck hitch 96 is connected to hitch ball 92, as seen in FIG.8, the electrical contacts 106 of contactor 104 are in electricalengagement with the electrical contacts 100 of contactor 98 so thatelectrical power from the vehicle is transmitted to the trailerelectrical system.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.In FIG. 10, the numeral 110 refers to a conventional vehicle receiverhitch having a horizontally disposed portion 112 at the rearward endthereof. Hitch ball 114 is mounted on the horizontally disposed portion112 in conventional fashion. The numeral 116 refers to a conventionalcoupler 16 located at the forward end of a trailer hitch.

A contactor block or plate 118 is vertically movably mounted on theshank portion 120 of hitch ball 114 and is yieldably maintained upwardlyby a spring 122 which embraces the shank portion 120 of the hitch ball114. As seen in FIG. 9, contactor block or plate 118 has a centralopening 124 formed therein which receives the shank portion 120 of thehitch ball 114. The upper surface of contactor block or plate 118 has aplurality of electrical contacts 126 provided thereon which areconnected to the vehicle electrical system by lead 128.

The numeral 130 refers to a generally U-shaped contactor plate or blockhaving electrical contacts 132 provided on the lower surface thereofwhich are electrically connected to the trailer electrical system bylead 134. As seen in FIG. 9, the contactor plate 130 has a U-shapedgroove or recess 136 formed therein which receives the laterallyextending flange portion 138 of the coupler 116. The contactor plate 130is clamped onto the flange 138 or secured thereto by any convenientmeans.

In operation, the spring 122 yieldably urges contactor plate 118upwardly into electrical engagement with the contactor plate 130. Thefact that the contactor plates 118 and 130 are mounted as shown permitsthe vehicle hitch and the trailer coupler 116 to pivot and rotate withrespect to one another.

Thus it can be seen that an improved means has been provided forelectrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer by wayof the hitch structures thereon. The means of this inventionautomatically electrically connects the vehicle electrical system to thetrailer electrical system when the trailer hitch is mounted on thevehicle hitch. Thus, when the trailer is disconnected from the vehiclehitch, the electrical connection between the vehicle electrical systemand the trailer electrical system is automatically disconnected. Thus,it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specificto certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, thespecific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing theclaimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. In combination: a vehicle including an electrical system and atrailer hitch which extends rearwardly from the vehicle and which has ahitch ball structure mounted on a horizontally extending portion withthe hitch ball including a shank portion and a base portion; a firstsupport secured to said horizontally extending portion; a firstcontactor, having upper and lower ends, extending rearwardly from saidfirst support and having electrical contacts at said upper end thereof;said electrical contacts extending around said hitch ball; saidelectrical contacts of said first contactor being electrically connectedto the vehicle electrical system; a trailer having a hitch ball couplerat the forward end thereof for receiving the hitch ball therein; asecond support operatively secured to said hitch ball coupler and havingrearward and forward ends; a second semi-ring shaped contactor havingrearward and forward ends; said rearward end of said second contactorbeing secured to said second support; said second contactor havingelectrical contacts thereon which electrically contact said electricalcontacts of said first contactor when said hitch ball is received bysaid hitch ball coupler to supply electrical power to the trailer fromthe vehicle; said rearward end of said second contactor being pivotallysecured about a horizontal axis to said second support.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein a spring means is operatively secured tosaid second contactor which yieldably urges said lower end thereof in adownward direction.
 3. In combination: a vehicle including an electricalsystem and a trailer hitch which extends rearwardly from the vehicle andwhich has a hitch ball structure mounted on a horizontally extendingportion with the hitch ball including a shank portion and a baseportion; a first support secured to said horizontally extending portion;a first contactor, having upper and lower ends, extending rearwardlyfrom said first support and having electrical contacts at said upper endthereof; said electrical contacts extending around said hitch ball; saidelectrical contacts of said first contactor being electrically connectedto the vehicle electrical system; a trailer having a hitch ball couplerat the forward end thereof for receiving the hitch ball therein; asecond support operatively secured to said hitch ball coupler and havingrearward and forward ends; a second semi-ring shaped contactor havingrearward and forward ends; said rearward end of said second contactorbeing secured to said second support; said second contactor havingelectrical contacts thereon which electrically contact said electricalcontacts of said first contactor when said hitch ball is received bysaid hitch ball coupler to supply electrical power to the trailer fromthe vehicle; said first support being vertically secured to saidhorizontally extending portion of said vehicle trailer hitch; a springmeans associated with said first support to yieldably urge said firstsupport upwardly with respect to said horizontally extending portion ofsaid vehicle trailer hitch; said rearward end of said second contractorbeing pivotally secured about a horizontal axis to said second support.4. The combination of claim 3 wherein a spring means is operativelysecured to said second contactor which yieldably urges said lower endthereof in a downward direction.